Aborym are Italian legends that have been in existence since 1992 under command of Fabban, mastermind of the band. Aborym endured countless line-up changes, guests, session musicians, but this line-up is once again strong. Fabban reunited with drummer Atum and guitarist Munholy to create this being band’s ninth opus coming our way. There are nine songs on this opus and when I started listening to this one, I was immediately surprised by the sheer relentlessness and brutality of the songs. Blast beats, piercing guitar riffs with even solo thrown in like in awesome title song and Enshrined In Putrefaction. There is coldness to this record, darkness also. But, there are also couple of melodies and hooks hidden inside the all out attack of black metal. This opus is definitely come back from more machine industrial black metal of Aborym to their black metal roots and sounds like death metal parts also in couple of songs. Like, there are blast beats, Fabban’s excellent vocals, besides black metal voice there is also clean melodic voice like in The Crescendo Of Demise, and then comes some melody that actually surprises you and catches you unaware, but it makes goosebumps upon your skin. There are also some remnants of industrial synth in the background, but not in great excess. There are also lots of prominent guests that this album features like Patrick Mameli (Pestilence), Tommy Talamanca (Sadist) and Chris Cannella (Malevolent Creation and former Deicide), Noralf Venås Helheim, Tapio Wilska (former Finntroll, Survivors Zero and Sörnäinen), Brisen (ex-Dungeon). My personal favorites on this opus are Enshrined In Putrefaction, Creatures Of The Night and Satiate With My Sperm. Awesome black metal with some death and industrial elements.
High Roller Records continue to deliver awesome NWOBHM and classic heavy metal releases, so here is the new Cloven Hoof full length. Band hails from Wolverhampton, UK and were formed in 1979. They played until 1990, then had a pause until 2001 to come back. This is their eleventh full length album. The sole original member is bassist Lee Payne, but he gathered mighty group of musicians, led by fantastic vocalist Harry Conklin, known for his work with Jag Panzer among other bands and projects. There are 10 songs on this record. The music is melodic heavy metal, NWOBHM style with great melodic guitar work, super vocal lines and great anthemic choruses, fine keyboard background generally made to pump your fist in the air, show metal horns and appreciate the music of Cloven Hoof. Lyrics vary from occult, fantasy and (anti) religion. Songs that somehow stood out to my ear upon listening to this album are Conquistador, Iron Mask and Flying Dutchman. Great album for all fans of classic metal.
The Crimson Ghosts from Germany are in no way strangers to the pages of this zine, because I reviewed their other releases and did not one, but two interviews with this horrorpunk legends and for me the best European horrorpunk band. This time, The Crimson Ghosts re-issued their classic Carpe Mortem album on it’s twentieth anniversary completely remixed and remastered giving the 2026 versions of 13 songs which are contained on this opus a new and refreshing but mighty sound. What I love about The Crimson Ghosts is that they are pretty metallic in their punk sound and it fits perfectly to the song structures. Vlad is one of my favorite vocals and also one of the best vocals of the genre, with fantastic backing vocal harmonies, this being always a strong virtue of this band. For me the definite hits of this opus are Somewhere in a Casket, ballad Night of the Dead Promqueen, also genial Patchwork Fuckface, but you will have to find your favorites yourselves. This is one of top three The Crimson Ghosts opuses for me, so I recommend this one. Go get it and have a listen!
